The History of the Sacramento Pioneer Association

The story of the Sacramento Pioneer Association
spans the development of Sacramento from frontier to metropolis. The
members of today continue to honor the purpose of the founders of the
organization in 1854 to preserve information connected with the early
settlement. We perpetuate this heritage through historic preservation,
publications, and encouraging students to explore history through our
scholarship program. The Association owns and maintains Pioneer Grove in
the historic Sacramento City Cemetery and Pioneer Hall on Seventh
Street, the oldest building in California under continuous ownership of
one owner. Travel to historic places of interest has become a popular
activity in recent years.

In the new millennium the membership is open to any person with a
lively interest in the history of the Sacramento area. Our number stands
at approximately two hundred plus today. In the early days of the
Association, membership was restricted to those adventurers who had
arrived in California before January 1, 1850. They were resolute in
observing this date. One unfortunate applicant was denied admission to
the Association though he saw the coast before January 1, 1850 but was
not able to land because of adverse winds. This strict admission policy
continued until 1908 when membership was down to fourteen from a
burgeoning two hundred fifty-five in 1880. In 1909 descendants of
pioneers gained admission, and fifty-three sons and daughters of
pioneers joined. Again membership rose and then dwindled until in 1966
there were but four members. A new corporation was formed that year with
membership requirements eased, and the life of the organization has
been vigorous since then.

The archives of the organization, incorporating a period of 151 years, remain intact and reflect the life of a new city and a new state. The founders were a remarkable group. Both John Sutter and James Marshall were members. Marshall discovered the gold in the American River that precipitated the Gold Rush of 1849. Governors of California, John Bigler, J. Neely Johnson, and Newton Booth were members. B. F. Hastings, noted banker, was the first treasurer, followed by D. O. Mills, founder of the Bank of California. Editors James Anthony, of the Sacramento Union, and James McClatchy, of the Sacramento Bee, were both members. Nathaniel D. Goodell, architect of Pioneer Hall and of the home of Albert Gallatin that became the California Governor’s Mansion, was a president. These men had arrived in California either by ship or by trail across the continent. Very few, such as Mariano Vallejo, had been born here.

On January 24, 1854, seventy persons met at Jones’ Hotel on J Street, between Front and 2nd Streets, and adopted the constitution that established the Sacramento Pioneer Association. They then elected Joseph W. Winans as the first president and named John A. Sutter the first honorary member.

After meeting in court houses, fire houses, and leased quarters for
several years, they built Pioneer Hall in 1868 as a meeting place and to
house their extensive library. They were a burial society, as well.
They provided dignified funerals for members and marched to gravesides
with the departed, later purchasing a large area of the Sacramento City
Cemetery.

Existence in Sacramento in the early days was rough, rugged, and
unhealthy. Many died by accident; some succumbed to disease, fire or
flood. The records reveal, however, a sturdy bunch who celebrated life
and became the leaders of the new community. Dr. John F. Morse, the
Society’s president from 1857 to 1859, wrote the first history of
Sacramento and built the Morse Building. He is also remembered for his
heroic work during the cholera epidemic of 1850, during which seventeen
physicians and many hundreds of other citizens died of the disease. The
Central Pacific Rail Road Company founders Mark Hopkins and C. P.
Huntington were members.

Through the years, the Association has been instrumental in saving
Sutter’s Fort from ruin. Railroads spanned the continent under the
direction of Pioneer members. The agriculture of the Sacramento Valley
became the envy of the world with Association members in the vanguard.
Sacramento became the seat of government of the State of California with
members as Governors and Senators. Local technology, manufacture, and
medicine have developed with the help of Pioneer ingenuity. Today
members of the Association strive to continue the tradition of
leadership in the community.